title: [Defensins: an important innate element of the immune system in mammals].
abstract: In this paper a group of proteins, defensins, is characterized as they seem to be a very important element of immunity, especially innate immunity. Twelve alpha-defensins (HNP1-4, HD5-6, NP1 and 5 theta, criptidin 3 and 4, RMAD3-4), 25 beta-defensins (HBD1-4, SBD1-2, TAP, LAP, EBD, BNBD1-13, PBD1-2, mBD-1), and 5 q-defensins (retrocyklin 1,2, RTD1-3) are described. They display biological roles which are not only antibacterial, but also antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Mikrobiologii i Immunologii, Wydział Nauk Przyrodniczych, Uniwersytet Szczeciński, Szczecin.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deptuła
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023082:Defensins / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D008322:Mammals / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins